About Matt Skallerud

30+ Years at the
Heart of LGBTQ+
Digital Media

President, Pink Media  ·  Founder, #ILoveGay Network  ·  New York City

Before there was a "LGBTQ+ digital marketing industry," Matt Skallerud was building it. Since launching GayWired.com in May 1995 — one of the top 3 LGBTQ+ websites in the world — he has spent three decades helping brands connect with the LGBTQ+ community authentically, measurably, and with lasting impact.

Quoted in The New York Times Former IGLTA Board Chairman Featured on NewsNation 17M+ Monthly LGBTQ+ Impressions
Matt Skallerud, President of Pink Media
Matt Skallerud
President, Pink Media
LinkedIn Instagram Digital Card Contact Matt

The Story

It Started in 1995

Before Google. Before Facebook. Before "digital marketing" was a job title. Matt was building LGBTQ+ online communities — and turning them into a business.

Matt Skallerud's career is a masterclass in being in the right place, at the right time, with the right instincts. With an engineering degree and years of high-tech laser sales behind him, Matt found himself bored by the predictable and drawn to the new — and in May 1995, "the new" was the internet.

He co-founded GayWired.com alongside partner Fabrice Tasendo, and it quickly grew into one of the top three LGBTQ+ websites in the world. Long before brands were paying attention to the LGBTQ+ community online, Matt was building the infrastructure that would eventually serve them.

That pioneering instinct hasn't stopped. Through the evolution from dial-up to mobile, from banner ads to programmatic, from Twitter communities to TikTok — Matt has been navigating, adapting, and leading at every turn.

Today, Pink Media and the #ILoveGay Content Marketing Ad Network reach over 17 million LGBTQ+ impressions every month — a number built on three decades of community trust, not just ad spend.

1995

GayWired.com launches

Co-founded one of the top 3 LGBTQ+ websites in the world. Early internet — before there was a roadmap.

2000s

Pink Media founded

Pivoted from pure publishing to full-service LGBTQ+ marketing and advertising as the industry matured.

2010s

#ILoveGay Network scales

Built the flagship content marketing ad network across 50+ LGBTQ+ digital properties and social channels.

2020s

National media voice

Quoted in The New York Times on corporate retreat from Pride, DEI rollbacks, and the LGBTQ+ marketing landscape.

"Pride Month comes once a year. But LGBTQ+ people exist 365 days a year — and the brands that understand that are the ones who build real, lasting relationships with our community."

— Matt Skallerud

30+
Years in LGBTQ+ Digital
1995
Year It Began
17M+
Monthly Impressions
250K
Email Subscribers

Press & Media

The Voice Brands Listen To

When journalists need an expert on LGBTQ+ marketing, corporate DEI, and the business of Pride — they call Matt.

The New York Times

"This is our lives. It's personal."

On corporations pulling back from LGBTQ+ support under political pressure — the "double boycott" effect and what it means for brands trying to navigate an increasingly polarized landscape.

USA Today

On pinkwashing, rainbow capitalism, and what authentic LGBTQ+ engagement actually looks like year-round.

The difference between performative Pride Month campaigns and brands that have built genuine, lasting community trust.

NewsNation — Live TV

Featured with Leland Vittert on the business and cultural impact of corporate retreat from DEI and LGBTQ+ marketing.

Live national television analysis of the Bud Light, Target, and Disney controversies and their downstream effects on LGBTQ+ marketing investment.

Matt Skallerud — LGBTQ+ marketing expert and media commentator
Matt Skallerud — President, Pink Media  ·  Quoted in The New York Times, USA Today & featured on NewsNation on the state of LGBTQ+ marketing and corporate DEI.
BEQ Magazine — LGBTQ+ business thought leadership
Brainz Magazine — Digital marketing strategy & LGBTQ+ advertising
Industry panels & conferences — IGLTA, NGLCC, Out Professionals
For media inquiries — Matt@PinkMedia.LGBT

Pink Media

The Company He Built

Pink Media is a hybrid LGBTQ+ media, marketing, and advertising firm — the home of the #ILoveGay Content Marketing Ad Network and a full suite of targeted LGBTQ+ digital services.

Matt's philosophy at Pink Media is simple: start with a story, then amplify it everywhere that matters. He calls it "Content as Advertising" — the idea that a brand's most powerful marketing asset isn't a banner ad, it's a genuine piece of content that the LGBTQ+ community actually wants to share.

From mobile app ads on Grindr (with near 5% CTRs) to programmatic campaigns reaching millions of impressions, to influencer programs that produce long-term owned assets — Pink Media builds campaigns that perform across the full spectrum of LGBTQ+ digital touchpoints.

📱
Mobile App Advertising
Grindr, Sniffies · ~5% CTR
🎯
#ILoveGay Network
17M monthly impressions
🎬
Influencer & Content Programs
UGC · Long-term assets
💼
LGBTQ+ B2B Outreach
LinkedIn · Email · $950/mo
📣
PR as Marketing
Turn press into paid reach
📧
Email Marketing
250K LGBTQ+ recipients
📺
Connected TV & Video
Streaming · Social video
🌈
Starter Package
Entry level from $495
#ILoveGay Content Marketing Ad Network
Pink Media's Flagship Product
17M+
Total Monthly Impressions
25M
Social Media Reach
10.6M
Display Ad Impressions/mo
250K
Email Recipients

A curated network of 50+ LGBTQ+ content partners — Bear World Magazine, Gayming Magazine, Gay Desert Guide, Nomadic Boys, Two Bad Tourists, So.Gay, Outcoast, and more — all amplifying your brand's story to targeted LGBTQ+ audiences 24/7, 365.

#ILoveGay Today

The Podcast & Video Series

Matt hosts a globally distributed video interview series that puts LGBTQ+ voices, stories, and perspectives front and center.

Hosted by Matt Skallerud
#ILoveGay Today

A video interview series and podcast amplifying LGBTQ+ voices from around the world — entrepreneurs, artists, health leaders, travel professionals, activists, and more. Warm, curious, globally-minded conversations with guests from the US, UK, Spain, Italy, and beyond.

LinkedIn BlueSky Threads Instagram TikTok Facebook Spotify Video
2.5–5K
Views Per Episode
B2B
Primary Audience
Global
Guest Reach
✈️
Travel & Tourism
LGBTQ+ destinations, tour operators, and travel professionals sharing how they serve the community.
🏥
Health & Wellness
Healthcare organizations, nonprofits, and advocates doing meaningful work in LGBTQ+ health.
🎨
Arts, Culture & Entertainment
Authors, musicians, artists, and creators from the LGBTQ+ community telling their stories.
💡
Business & Entrepreneurship
LGBTQ+ business owners, marketers, and innovators building companies with community at the center.
🌍
International Organizations
EGLCC, IGLTA-connected groups, and global LGBTQ+ advocacy organizations sharing cross-border perspectives.
Apply to Be a Guest

Thought Leadership

The Ideas That Drive the Work

Matt's most impactful thinking — the frameworks and perspectives he returns to when helping brands navigate LGBTQ+ marketing.

🎯
Content as Advertising

The most powerful LGBTQ+ campaigns don't start with ad budgets — they start with a brand's genuine story. Create content the community wants to share, then amplify it across every relevant LGBTQ+ channel.

📅
Year-Round, Not Just Pride Month

Authentic LGBTQ+ engagement doesn't have an on/off switch. The brands that win long-term are the ones showing up in February, August, and October — not just June. Community trust is built 24/7, 365.

🔁
The Double Boycott Effect

When brands retreat from LGBTQ+ support under political pressure, they lose twice: the community they abandoned, and the credibility they spent years building. Bud Light, Target, and Disney proved it the hard way.

⚡
The Social Media Power Zone

True social media success isn't about follower count — it's about operating in the "Power Zone" of 2-way engagement. Platforms like LinkedIn and Instagram reward engaged accounts that reach friends-of-friends, decoupling success from raw follower numbers.

🎯
Targeted Reach > Broad Reach

A campaign that reaches 100,000 LGBTQ+ people authentically outperforms one that reaches 10 million general consumers. Quality of audience connection matters more than raw impressions — especially in a community that can spot inauthenticity instantly.

📰
PR as a Marketing Channel

Most brands earn press coverage and let it evaporate. The smart move is using that earned media as the foundation of a paid amplification campaign — turning a New York Times mention into months of targeted LGBTQ+ reach.

Board & Community Involvement

Leading Beyond the Bottom Line

Matt's commitment to the LGBTQ+ community extends far beyond campaigns. He has served on the boards of some of the most important LGBTQ+ organizations in the world.

✈️
Former Chairman

International Gay & Lesbian Travel Association (IGLTA)

Served as Board Chairman of the world's leading LGBTQ+ travel trade organization — connecting the global LGBTQ+ tourism industry and shaping the future of inclusive travel.

🍁
Former Board Member

Travel Gay Canada (TGC)

Board service supporting LGBTQ+ travel and tourism development across Canada, expanding Pink Media's reach in North American LGBTQ+ markets.

🌴
Former Board Member

Los Angeles Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce (LAGLCC)

Board service advancing LGBTQ+ business interests in Los Angeles — a key market in Pink Media's bicoastal presence.

🤝
Active Member

NGLCC, Out Professionals & Lambda Legal

Ongoing engagement with the National LGBT Chamber of Commerce, Out Professionals networking, and Lambda Legal — organizations advancing LGBTQ+ rights, business, and community.

Work With Matt

Ready to Reach the
LGBTQ+ Community?

Whether you're a brand looking to launch your first LGBTQ+ campaign, a journalist on deadline, or a podcast looking for an expert guest — Matt would love to connect.

Packages start at $495. No long-term contracts required.

Contact Matt See Client Results